Islamophobic Remarks :
Ankit Pandey, a propagandist for hatred from Banda, Uttar Pradesh, is the district coordinator for the Bajrang Dal, a group of Hindu militants.
He frequently spews hate speech that is Islamophobic and actively takes part in the organized hate crimes committed against Muslims in the area.
Sambhu Koiri, a Bajrang Dal worker, was allegedly hacked to death in Karimganj, Assam, on January 7, 2023. In a recorded statement, Panday blamed Islam for his demise, saying, “These children of Babur (Muslims) must know their place.”
In Banda, the Bajrang Dal men burned Muslim effigies, and Panday told the reporters, “khoon ka badla khoon hoga. “There shall be an eye for an eye,” or “Wo ek marenge hum unke hazaar marenge aur ab ye Babur ki auladein apni aukaat mein reh kar desh me rahe. We’ll kill thousands of them if they kill one of us. These Babur descendants must be taught where they belong in our nation.
Additionally, he participates in several cow vigilante groups and has harmed Muslims under the guise of protecting cows. He declares, “This is our government now, and we are part of it,” alluding to the impunity enjoyed by him and his ilks. He refers to Muslims as “jihadis” and “terrorists” in a casual manner.
His Twitter and Facebook profiles are flooded with hate speech and anti-Muslim sentiments.
Notably, Pandey is assisted in his anti-Muslim misinformation campaign by regional WhatsApp groups with thousands of members that are affiliated with Hindu extremist organizations.